Gulf Of Maine Expedition Finally Rests at Clark’s Harbour, Cape Sable Island!

For Immediate Release

Contact: Theresa Torrent-Ellis, 287-2351, Theresa.torrent-ellis@state.me.us, Maine Coastal Program, or Lorraine Lessard, 287-1486, lorraine.lessard@state.me.us.

September 25, 2002, Augusta, Maine -- Coast Week, the single largest volunteer effort in the state of Maine, begins this weekend! This annual event by which Maine residents show “caring for our coast consists of volunteer manned beach cleanups in which debris and trash are collected and recorded. The data cards are compiled statewide, then nationally to identify sources of marine debris and devise solutions to coastal pollution problems. This year, approximately 140 cleanups are scheduled for Coast Week 2002. Last year, upwards of 1900 Maine volunteers cleared our coastline of 16,987 pounds of debris - 67,330 items were recorded; these included plastic wraps and containers, beverage bottles and cans, cigarette filters, six pack rings, rope, buoys and line. Other events such as guided nature walks, tide pool visits, lobstering and sail making programs are scheduled and open to the public to celebrate our marine resources during Coast Week; these are detailed on the Maine Coastal Program website, http://www.state.me.us/mcp/.

Everyone can participate in and benefit from Coast Week; all the cleanups are volunteer organized and involve school groups, diverse associations, church groups, conservation groups, land trusts, towns, recreation groups and single concerned citizens and families. Many coordinators invite more participants to their cleanups, listed as 'public invited' on the calendar.

Coast Week is a celebration of our coast and coastal resources as well as an event of education and awareness building. Coastal beach water pollution can create health hazards, for swimmers or fishery seafood consumers. Marine wildlife are threatened by debris ingestion, which can starve or internally damage them, and entanglement, which can trap, suffocate or starve animals if they are unable to feed their young. Aesthetically, Coast Week helps keep our beaches free of garbage. Economically, much if Maine’s tourist industry is derived from coastal visitors.

The Maine Coastal Program is funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). International coastal cleanup is coordinated by Ocean Conservancy. For more information, please visit the Maine Coastal Program Website: http://www.state.me.us/mcp/. Scheduled cleanups and other Coast Week events are listed and continue to be updated. For a hard copy of the recent calendar, please email Lorraine Lessard, lorraine.lessard@state.me.us.